Deputy foreign ministers from the United States, South Korea and Japan have warned that if North Korea conducts its seventh nuclear test, an unprecedented powerful response will be needed. The United States also confirmed its fervent defense commitments to South Korea and Japan. Journalist Jo Eun-jung reports this.
Deputy Foreign Ministers of the United States, South Korea and Japan held a meeting in Tokyo on the 26th and strongly urged North Korea to stop further provocations, including nuclear tests.
The meeting held this morning at the Ikura embassy in Tokyo was attended by US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, Korean First Deputy Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong and Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Takeo Mori.
“This year, North Korea has launched ballistic missiles with unprecedented frequency, one of which has passed over Japan and poses a serious threat to the Japanese people,” Sherman said in a joint press conference after the meeting. . “It’s a preparation for the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons,” he said.
[녹취: 웬디 셔먼 미 국무부 부장관] “All this behavior, all of this, is reckless and deeply destabilizing for the region. We urge the DPRK to refrain from further provocations and remain committed to dialogue with the DPRK without preconditions. “
“All of these actions are reckless and seriously destabilize the region,” Sherman said.
“Japan and South Korea are strong and close allies of the United States,” Sherman said.
South Korean Deputy Minister Cho Hyun-dong pointed out that recent missile launches and other provocations by North Korea have greatly increased instability not only on the Korean peninsula but also in the Indo-Pacific region.
“At a time when North Korea is adopting an aggressive nuclear force policy and the threat of using nuclear weapons is increasing, the three countries have agreed to continue close cooperation,” he said.
[녹취: 조현동 한국 외교부 1차관] “In particular, the three countries agreed that an extraordinarily strong response would be needed if North Korea finally conducts its seventh nuclear test. We have decided to further strengthen cooperation with the international community so that North Korea immediately ceases its illegal activities and returns to the arena of dialogue on denuclearization. “
Deputy Minister Cho said the US will strengthen its deterrence against North Korea with overwhelming capabilities through the combined defense position and security cooperation between the US and Japan.
Deputy Minister Mori also shared the recognition that “the strengthening of nuclear and missile activities by North Korea is a clear and serious challenge for the international community”. I decided to do it, “he said.
[녹취: 모리 다케오 일본 외무성 사무차관] Japanese speech
“Considering the possibility of further provocative actions, including nuclear tests, in the future, we have decided to cooperate more closely in terms of strengthening the regional deterrence, the UN response, including the Security Council, and the diplomatic response for the complete North Korea’s denuclearization, “Mori said. ” he said.
Deputy Secretary Sherman also stressed the close cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan.
[녹취: 셔먼 부장관] “There is so much we can achieve and are achieving when our countries work together. Our meeting today underscores the Biden-Harris administration’s firm commitment to our longtime allies. Investing in these alliances, including with Japan and the Republic of Korea, is essential to build the future we want to see. “
“There is so much we can and are accomplishing when we work together,” Sherman said.
“Investing in alliances like Japan and South Korea is very important in building the future we are pursuing,” he said.
Deputy Secretary Sherman also said North Korea’s nuclear test would affect global security.
On the same day, US and Japanese Deputy Foreign Ministers also discussed the Taiwan Strait and the Ukrainian crisis.
Deputy Secretary Sherman said all three countries agreed on the need for peace in the Taiwan Strait and said they would work with Japan and South Korea to ensure Taiwan’s self-defense.
He also accused Russia of annexing parts of Ukraine as a violation of the UN Charter.
Deputy Minister Mori also said: “The consensus was that China’s behavior in the East and South China Seas has not changed.”
The US-Korea-Japan Deputy Foreign Minister meeting was held four months after it was held in Seoul in June.
The next trilateral conference will be held in the United States early next year.
I’m Jo Eun-jung from VOA News.
